Calf feeder pail assembly



Nov. 23, 1954 H. E. MELTZER CALF FEEDER FAIL. ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. l,1955 INVENTOR HENRY E. MELTZER ATTORNEYS United States Patent O @ALFFEEDER PAIL ASSEMBLY Henry E. Meitner, Racine, Wis., assigner to AlloverManufacturing Co., Racine, Wis., a corporation Application December l,1953, Serial No. 395,427

4 Claims. (Cl. 119-71) This invention appertains to calf and other younganimal feeders, particularly of the type known as feeder pails.

In feeder pails, the wall of the pail adjacent to its lower end isprovided with an inwardly extending ferrule, in which is pushed thefeeder nipple and the nipple extends outward of the pail. A check valvecontrolled hollow body is disposed in the pail and includes a sleevewhich is pushed into the nipple and ferrule. This provides a quickassembly and the nipple when worn can be easily removed and replaced bya new one. The sleeve of the hollow body is relied on to frictionallyhold the nipple in place, but in actual practice, a calf pushing in onthe nipple often displaces the nipple and hollow body from the ferruleresulting in loss of milk and time necessary to reassemble the feedingunit.

One of the primary objects of my invention, is to provide a simple, butefllcient, appliance for detachably holding the nipple and hollow bodyassembled on the ferrule against accidental displacement irrespective ofthe manner of usage of the nipple by the calf.

Another salient object of my invention is the provision of a single clipfor effectively engaging an annular rib on the sleeve of the hollow bodyand a flange on the ferrule with the bead of the nipple clampedtherebetween, whereby displacement of these parts will be prevented, theclip being movable into and out of clamping position by a mere slidingmotion over the rib and flange.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clip of the abovecharacter of a substantially U-shape in side elevation having legsgradually diverging toward their lower ends, with each of the legs alsoof a U-shape in cross-section for gripping the rib of the sleeve of thehollow body and the flange of the ferrule with the side walls of thelegs gradually converging toward their upf per ends, so that when theclip is slid in place a dual wedging action will be had to firmly gripand clamp the rib and flange.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device of theabove character, which will be durable and efficient in use and one thatcan be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing, in which drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through a feeder pailwith the parts of the nipple assembly arranged thereon showing my novelclip in its operative position, the clip being shown in section and thesection being taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line of 2-2 of Figurel, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the clip inelevation with one leg thereof partially broken away and in section, and

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several view, the letter Pgenerally indicates a calf or other young animal feeding pail with afeeding assembly A connected with the pail, the parts of the assemblybeing held in operative position against displacement by my novel clipC.

2,595,9@7 Patented Nov. 23, 1.954

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The feeder pail P and the feeding assembly A are of a type and characternow sold on the open market and only sufficient parts thereof have beenshown and illustrated to permit a thorough understanding to be had of mynovel clip C.

The feeder pail P comprises an outer wall 5 and a bottom wall 6. Securedto and proiecting inwardly from the wall 5 adjacent to the bottom wall 6is a ferrule 7. The inner end of the ferrule has formed thereon arolled-back annular flange 8.

The feeding assembly A comprises an elongated rubber nipple 9 havingformed on its inner end a bead l0. The nipple 9 is slid in the ferrule 7until the bead l@ abuts the flange 8. The feeding assembly A alsoincludes a hollow angular shaped body ll. A conventional check valve(not shown) is provided for the body to control the flow of milktherethrough. This body includes a horizontally disposed sleeve l2 whichis slipped into the nipple 9 and the ferrule 7. Formed on the sleeve l2is an annular rib or shoulder 13, which is adapted to abut against thebead lll formed on the nipple. As brought out in the objects of thespecification, the sleeve is relied upon to hold the nipple 9 inposition in the ferrule, but that accidental displacement of the nippleand the sleeve takes place when the calf thrusts inwardly on the nipple.

The clip C forming the essence of my invention is constructed,preferably, of sheet metal possessing some resiliency, and is fabricatedto provide a structure of substantially U-shape in side elevation. ThisU-shaped structure defines legs 14 and l5 and a connecting rounded bightportion 16. The legs 14 and 15 diverge outwardly toward their lower endsfor a purpose which will later appear. The legs themselves are also of asubstantially U-shape in cross-section to provide slightly outwardlyflared side flanges or wall 17, and these flanges also graduallyconverge toward one another as they approach the connecting bightportion 16.

In operation, after the assembly of the sleeve l2 within the nipple 9,the clip C is held in the hand so that the legs 14 and l5 will straddlethe assembly, as best shown in Figure 2 and the legs are placed over therib 13 and the flange 8 so that the side flanges or walls 17 of the legswill engage the rib 13. The clip is then slid downwardly and the legs 14and l5 can spring slightly outwardly during this movement. As the walls17 also converge toward their upper ends, the rib i3 will be broughttoward the flange tl slightly compressing the resilient bead 1t)therebetween and this will effectively hold the nipple, the hollow bodyand the ferrule in binding contact so as to effectively preventdisplacement of the nipple. Obviously, when it is desired to remove thenipple 9, it is merelynecessary to pull up on the clip C.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided asimple but effective means for preventing accidental dislodgement of afeeding nipple from a feeder pail.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or thescope of this invention, but what I claim as new is:

l. ln a calf feeder of the type including a wall having an inwardlydirected ferrule, an annular flange on the ferrule, a nipple fitted inthe ferrule and provided with a bead abutting the flange and a hollowbody including a sleeve fitted within the nipple and ferrule and anannular rib on the sleeve abutting the bead; of means for releasablyholding the nipple and sleeve in the ferrule against displacementcomprising a clip including portions engaging the flange and the rib fordrawing the same toward one another with the bead therebetween.

2. In a calf feeder of the type including a wall having an inwardlydirected ferrule terminating in a flange, a flexible nipple extendingthrough the ferrule having a bead on its inner end abutting the flangeand a hollow body including a sleeve fltted in the nipple and ferruleand having an annular rib abutting the bead; of means for detachablyclamping the nipple and body together on the ferrule including a clip ofa substantially U-shape in elevation having legs for straddling thesleeve and ferrule gradually converging toward their upper ends, andsaid legs each having side walls engaging respectively the rib and theflange for drawing the rib into compressing engagement with the bead.

3. In a calf feeder as defined in claim 2, and said Walls also graduallyconverging toward their upper ends.

4. In a calf feeder as defined in claim 2 and said clip also includingan arcuate resilient connecting bight portion for the legs, and saidlegs including spaced rib and flange engaging Walls gradually convergingtoward the bight portion.

Number 5 870,544 1,600,684 1,972,375 2,019,380 2,170,483 10 2,652,027

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Churchill Nov. 12, 1907 McGibbon Sept.21, 1926 Coyner Sept. 4, 1934 Andrews Oct. 29, 1935 Place Aug. 22, 1939Coyner Sept. 15, 1953

